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William Howard, one of the key players in Troopergate has his new job assignment. After being initially banished from the prestigious Second Floor of the state Capitol (where Spitzer works) he’s now getting a demotion and aÂ pay cut from $175,900 to $157,000.

The governor’s office, which has previously said Howard was being shifted from the Capitol, where he was a Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, toÂ a jobÂ atÂ the State University SystemÂ after a brief leave of absence. Spitzer had explained that Howard, who had worked for the state under both Democratic and Republican governors, had been on the SUNY payroll and was on loan to his office.

His new assignment isÂ Coordinator of Preparedness and Response at the State Office of Homeland Security, based at the state office campus inÂ Albany.

Howard, according toÂ Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s report on Troopergate,Â worked with Spitzer’s communications director, Darren Dopp, in havingÂ State PoliceÂ create itineraries of Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s trips to Manhattan. Cuomo’s report on the scandal said the actionsÂ violated the State Police chain of command, deviated from the state’s usual Freedom of Information Law practices, and improperly drew State Police into a political matter.

Dopp remains suspended without pay (his salary is $175,000).

Timing of the Howard release was interesting. I got the email at 4:15 p.m. Apart from the time tested technique of releasing unpopular news on a FridayÂ it comes a day after an interesting story in the Sun that questioned whether there is any SUNY homeland security apparatus or if its a figment of some budget wizard’s imagination.Â

In fairness to Howard, who I’ve not met, Spitzer, in an editorial board meeting at the TU last week, said he’s long had a reputation as a go-to guy when it comes to handling floods, disasters and other mayhem. Friday’s release mentioned the 1998 North Country ice storm,Â 9/11, to last winter’sÂ big Oswego snowstorm.Â Â Â

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